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Paleoclimate
Glacial Climate (From 2.5 million years ago to the present)
After cooling for almost 100 million years, the global climate entered the
current period of glacial cycles about 2.5 million years ago. During this time,
there have been several periods of significantly colder temperatures and
glaciers have extended into the middle latitudes.
The cause of the Ice Ages is changes in the Earth's orbit called
Milankovitch Cycles.
When the settings are just right,
incoming radiation is decreased in the summertime in the high northern
latitudes. The cooler temperatures keep snow from melting from year to year,
and eventually
glaciers form. Although this transition takes thousands of years, the
transition from glaciated to non-glaciated occurs very rapidly.
Next page -> glacial climate, continued
Links and resources
Glacial Climate (From 2.5 million years ago to the present)
After cooling for almost 100 million years, the global climate entered the
current period of glacial cycles about 2.5 million years ago. During this time,
there have been several periods of significantly colder temperatures and
glaciers have extended into the middle latitudes.
The cause of the Ice Ages is changes in the Earth's orbit called
Milankovitch Cycles.
When the settings are just right,
incoming radiation is decreased in the summertime in the high northern
latitudes. The cooler temperatures keep snow from melting from year to year,
and eventually
glaciers form. Although this transition takes thousands of years, the
transition from glaciated to non-glaciated occurs very rapidly.Next page -> glacial climate, continued
Links and resources
